Advice on shore fishing Lake Sammamish

[the sting]

Hi Gents/Ladies
My name is James. I live in Australia, and I'm heading to the US to visit my bro in law who has a house backing onto Lake Sammamish. I even had to check the spelling of Sammamish.
Anyway, just wondering what my chances of catching anything from the shore of Lake Sammamish. I notice you guys smash the trout on down riggers and trolling.
I was going to bring a travel rod,and a couple of soft and hard body lures.
Any advice is much appreciated.
Cheers

[BentRod]

As you may know, Lake Sammamish contains trout, kokanee, bass, perch, sunfish, carp, small catfish, pikeminow, and a couple other odd species of fish as well as salmon during certain times of the year. Trout, bass, and perch seem to be the main targets of most sportsmen. As you stated, many troll for cutthroat and rainbow trout, but they can be caught fishing off the bottom with bait or suspending bait under a float. Bass and perch are plentiful and can be taken with a variety of lures. Kokanee on Lake Sammamish are protected due to low numbers, so gently release them if caught.
Feel free to ask specifics on techniques or lures if you want to know more.
Hope you enjoy your trip!

[G-Man]

James, depending on where your bother in law's house is located and when you will be arriving will have an effect on what kind of fish will be available to you. The lake is fairly large and starting now, and lasting through October, will develop water layers of different temperature and oxygen levels. The fish you will most likely have a chance to encounter from shore during our summer months are spiny rays, carp and catfish. Yellow perch are very abundant and will be available on the outer portion of the weedline (typically in 3 to 5 meters of water) using small jigs and/or bait. Dropshot methods are effective on perch as they really tend to hug the bottom. Retrieving crankbaits or working a jig along the weedline and around docks may also bag you a bass. The catfish in the lake don't really get that large and can be caught using worms fished on the bottom. Mornings and evenings are going to be better as the lake gets heavy pleasure boat traffic on warm, sunny days. If you can get access to a kayak, canoe, inflatable boat, etc. you will be able target different areas and increase your chances of success a great deal. Good luck!

[Bodofish]

Trout are an easy catch from just about any dock on Sammamish. Chuck spinners or little bitty cranks. Kokes are out in the middle and any bass will be very wary when you walk out there.

[the sting]

Thanks very much for the info. Should be in Seattle by Friday. Just going to bring some lures that work on trout and bass here in OZ. If not working, I'll have a sniff at one of the local tackle stores. I've attached a pic of a lure that I've used a lot and been successful on.

Tasmanian-Devil-lure.jpg (8.82 KiB) Viewed 17136 times

I think there is canoes there, definitely a stink boat, and there is a jetty off the back of his house. I'll post a report of any fish caught.
Cheers James

[Amx]

Interesting lure, should work.

[riverhunter]

That lure is a first for me. Never seen those in any tackle shops ive been to. I'm interested to know how you do with one of those!!

[BentRod]

I found out about those a few years ago when researching alternatives to Buzz Bombs for Humpies. Learned they were not available locally, but it's a cool lure. Seems like a cross between a Buzz Bomb and a casting spoon.

[spokey9]

Cabela's carries them at smokey point. I used one in 2011 for pinks, did pretty good with it got a couple silvers on it too.

[BentRod]

Cabela's carries them at smokey point. I used one in 2011 for pinks, did pretty good with it got a couple silvers on it too.

Cool to hear!

[Sideburns]

Just got one of those tasmanian lures last month in my Lucky Tackle box subscription! Ive trolled it around a few lakes with no success. Mine is black and red striped, which may not be a good color for the species I was fishing for. The action looked pretty good, kinda similar to a flatfish, but less action and more erratic. I now have it slid on to a double snelled 18 inch leader without the treble hook. T

[the sting]

Well so far, heaps of what I think are redfin. All caught on worms ( night crawlers).
Unfortunately no trout as yet on the lures. The water maybe a bit warm and the trout maybe down in deeper water. But I did hook a kayak ( epic kayak), and he put up a good fight, but ended busting me off.

[Amx]

Ya, I saw that kyak floating down the lake today. It was upside down so it musta died. I wonder what they taste like cooked or steamed.

I wasn't really planning on going to Sammamish, but changed my mind last night and hurried to get the old boat set up.

[G-Man]

The trout right now are going to be occupying a band of water that is 6 to 10 meters below the surface. I'm guessing the "red fin" fish you caught are yellow perch, they do have orange/redish pelvic and ventral fins.

[the sting]

Definitely orange/redish pelvic and ventral fins., with a stripe pattern down the flanks.

[Amx]

There are LOTS of perch in Lake Sammamish. BIG schools of them.

perch pictures;

https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/ ... h&fr=yfp-t